Camera-stand.



No. 786,530. PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

E. A. STEETZER.

CAMERA STAND.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 27. 1904.

fimitpnssss gnueutnr 5H anemia? Q No. 786,53Q.

Fatented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWVARD A. STEETZER, OF WVYANDOTTE, MICHIGAN.

CAMERA-STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 786,530, dated April 4, 1905.

Application filed January 27, 1904. $eria1No. 190,822.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD A'. STEETZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wyandotte, in the county of \Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Camera-Stands; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a portable camera'- stand; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a stand of the character described, of simple,

strong, and inexpensive construction, in which the arrangement is such as to enable the stand to be folded into a small compass for carrying and easily and quickly set up for use, forming when in position a stand for the camera Whereon the camera may be supported at any desired elevation.

The above object is attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camerastand involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stand folded for carryin g. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the body of the stand and vertically-movable standard, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective, showing the manner of joining the legs to the body. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective, showing the manner of clustering the legs in the concavo-convex retaining-d isk at the lower end of the standard.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates the body of the stand, which may be of any suitable size and length required and through which is adapted to slide vertically the standard 2, having upon one face thereof a metal strip 3, adapted to be engaged by the set-screw 4, passing through a tapped bushing 5 in the body of the stand, whereby the standard may be secured at any desired height. Embracing the lower end of the body portion is a metal sheath 6, from which is struck or stamped, upon each side thereof at its lower edge, the integral wings 7, forming inclined recesses or housings. Hinged at 8 to the lower end of the-body 1 are the legs 9, which are of the same transverse diameter as said housings and are adapted to swing outwardly therein when their lower ends are spread for the purpose of supporting the stand, as shown in Fig. l. The point of the hinging of said legs being coincident with the angle formed by the conjunction of the housings with the metal sheath 6, the legs when spread lie against the inclined wall of said housings, which serves as afirm support therefor, thereby imparting to the legs the requisite rigidity, while the embracing sides of said housings support the legs against lateral movement.

Upon the lower end of the standard 3 is a concavo-convex disk 10, which is adapted to embrace the lower ends of the legs when the standard is down and said legs are folded there on, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby by tightening the set-screw 4, so as to prevent a longitudinal movement of the standard, the legs may be securely confined in said position, thereby reducing the stand to a very small compass.

l/Vhen it is desired to set up the stand for use, the set-screw is. loosened and the standard depressed sufliciently to release the lower ends of the legs from the disk 10, when the standard is drawn upwardly until said disk engages the inner face of the legs and forces them outwardly into the recesses 7, as shown in Fig. 1. The stand is then placed upon the ground, thereby retaining the legs in said position. The standard may then be lowered until it is at the desired elevation, when it is secured by the set-screw 4.

By hinging the legs in the manner described and causing them to swing outwardly into the inclined recesses which embrace them all of said legs are projected at the same angle, insuring evenness of the stand when positioned for use.

Upon the upper end of the standard is a plate 11, having struck therefrom the tongues 12, which are bent downwardly and embrace the standard 3, thereby retaining the plate in position. Resting upon the top of the standard between said tongues is the head 13 of the screw 14, which passes through the plate 11 and projects from the end of the standard in a manner to afford means for mounting the camera thereon.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a camera-stand, the combination of a body portion, a standard vertically movable therethrough and carrying means for supporting a camera, a plurality of legs hinged to the body portion and adapted to swing outwardly, there being in the body portion an embracing and supporting housing for each leg when extended, and means for securing said standard against vertical movement within the body.

2. In a stand, the combination of the body portion, a standard vertically movable therethrough, means for locking said standard against movement, legs hinged to the lower end of the b0 ly portion to swing inwardly againstsaid standard and to project outwardly to brace the stand, a cup-like disk secured to the lower end of said standard adapted to cover and confine the lower ends of said legs when lying against the standard.

3. In a stand, the combination of a body portion, a standard vertically movable therethrough, means for locking said standard against movement, a metal sheath embracing the lower end of the body, and havinginclined recesses formed therein, legs hinged to the body within said recesses to swing outwardly therein, whereby said legs are supported and confined, and means carried by the lower end of the standard for securing said legs when lying thereagainst.

4:. In a stand, the combination of a body portion, a standard vertically movable in the body portion, legs hinged to the lower end of the body which is provided with inclined sockets in which the legsare hinged and into which said legs are adapted to swing, and means upon the lower end of the standard for spreading said legs outwardly into said sockets, when said standard is raised.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. STEETZER.

WVitnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, 1. G. HowLETT. 

